British Columbia
Quitline Profile
Canada
Quitline: BC Lung Foundation
Began Operations: February 2005
Website: http://www.quitnow.ca/
Standard Hours of Operation
Monday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Tuesday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Wednesday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Thursday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Friday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Saturday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Sunday:
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Closed on:
Open 365 days a year
Telephone Numbers
Line
Phone Number
Language/Subject
1
1 (877) 455-2233
English
2
7-1-1 (TELUS RELAY)
English
Supported Languages
Counseling offered in: English, French
Third-party counseling: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, French, Russian, plus more (378 languages)
Deaf/Hard of hearing: TTY relay CA Communication Assistant
 
VIEW ONLINE
CESSATION SERVICES
Phone Counseling
Types:
brief intervention
single-session
multi-session (client-initiated)
multi-session (counselor-initiated)
text to cell (two-way)
text to cell (one-way)
text to cell (two-way w/ counselor)
text to cell (two-way automated)
Length of standard first session: 30 min
Length of standard follow-up session: 25 min
Counseling session topics:
tobacco history
developing a quit plan
setting a quit date
withdrawal symptoms
relapse prevention
weight gain
use of cessation medication
stress management
other
Web-Based Services
quitline information
cessation information
self-help tools
automated e-mail messages
interactive counseling
chat rooms
webpages
forums
online courses
social media
AI
mobile app
Cessation Medications
Free Medications
patch
gum
lozenge
nasal spray
inhaler
varenicline
bupropion
combination NRT
Discounted Medications
patch
gum
lozenge
nasal spray
inhaler
varenicline
bupropion
combination NRT
Medication Distribution Methods
voucher
by mail
Other Services
voicemail with callbacks
recorded self-help messages
referral to other health services
mailed info or self-help resources
To receive counseling:
All British Columbia residents.
To receive medication:
Tobacco cessation medications are available outside of the quitline. Yearly, BC smokers have access to 12 weeks of free nicotine patch, gum, or lozenge, if they qualify under Pharmacare. They also have access to subsidized Champix or Zyban. Go to a local pharmacist for free nicotine products.
Additional Info:
For more information on cessation medications available to BC residents, please go to: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/what-we-cover/bc-smoking-cessation-program
Specialized Materials
youth, under 18
youth, 18-25
older tobacco users, 55+
smokeless tobacco users
pregnant tobacco users
multiple addictions
racial/ethnic populations
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
chronic health conditions
low socioeconomic status or Medicaid
low literacy
other
mental health disorders including psychiatric conditions
Additional Info:
Providers can order resources at: https://quitnow.ca/explore-quitnow/tools-resources/printed-materials

Resources for download are available at: https://quitnow.ca/explore-quitnow/tools-resources/download-materials

Support for 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities is available here: https://quitnow.ca/explore-quitnow/learn-about-quitting/support-2slgbtqia-communities
Specialized Protocols
pregnant tobacco users
behavioral health
youth, under 18
Additional Info:
QuitNow advises pregnant users to quit without NRT, to reduce nicotine exposure. As well, for youth clients NRT is generally avoided, and must be prescribed by physicians off-label in spite of general guidelines.
Cost-Sharing Partnerships
Medicaid
Medicare
state as employer
large self-insured business
commercial insurer
other
Fax or electronic referral program:  Yes
Person(s) eligible to refer patients:
certified or trained fax referral providers
clinicians or non-clinicians in a healthcare setting
clinicians or non-clinicians in a community-based organization
other
Available referral methods:
faxed form
e-mail or online
EMR with electronic submission
Tobacco users can be referred if they:
are thinking about quitting
indicate a readiness to quit within 30 days
are ready to make a quit attempt
are quit and seek help to stay quit
Referred patients contacted within:  Within 48 hours
Other services available to referring providers:
quitline and/or referral brochures
customized referral/consent forms
patient progress reports
customized provider feedback reports
staff training
quitline/referral program newsletter
Referral program contact:
Sheila Matano
BC Lung Foundation
(604) 731-5864
matano@bclung.ca
Other information:
Smoke-Free Laws
Workplaces: Yes
Bars: Yes
Restaurants Yes
Tobacco Tax Rates
Current cigarette tax rate: $10.32
Effective date: July 1, 2022
Amount of last increase: $0.809
Quitline Engagement (Source: QuitNow Program Data, 2025)
Number of direct calls to the quitline: 2,933
Number of tobacco users receiving services: 1,672
Number of tobacco users registering for Web-based services: 5,175
Number of tobacco users referred to the quitline: 783
Quitline Investment and Impact (Source: QuitNow Program Data, 2025)
Amount per smoker spent on services and medications: Not available
Amount per smoker spent on media and promotions: Not available
Promotional reach: 0.41%
Treatment reach: 0.41%
NAQC standard quit rate: 35.20%
NOTE: Additional quitline data is available online at www.naquitline.org/data/
Context for quitline metrics:
The data was made available via QuitNow Program Data from 2025 and spending data is presented in Canadian dollars. Medication is not given directly to clients, so Promotional/Treatment reach values are the same.
Funder of quitline services: Funded by the British Columbia Ministry of Health and managed through a contract with the British Columbia Lung Foundation.
Operator of counseling services: ASG a Foundever Group Company
Funding source(s): Provincial Government Federal Government
Electronic Medical Records:
Profile last updated on September 16, 2026
Profile managers, click here to edit your profile.